Search - Kitty Wells :: God's Honky Tonk Angel: First Queen Country Music

Snappy Offerings from THE Pioneer of Female Country Music

07/24/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"It is ironic (and I am thinking of the Bear Family releases from Germany here, as well as this KW compilation from the UK) that it is the Europeans who have rediscovered the music of America's classic country artists (Johnny Cash, Johnny Horton, Rose Maddox, etc.) re-mastered them on CD, re-packaged them, and brought them back home to be enjoyed. This complements a "discovery" of American jazz artists by the Japanese during the 1980s. Having said that, I must say I adore the music of Kitty Wells. Her high-alto vocal style, her simple yet compelling harmonies and haunting instrumental accompaniments take us back to the pre-Vietnam South of the 50s and 60s, to the underworld of honky-tonk men and their women, in songs about --what else?--unfaithfulness and broken marriage, loneliness(Whose Shoulder Will I Cry On); depression; regret(Oh So Many Years); alcoholism(Death at the Bar); female liberation (It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels); and Baptist-style Christianity (One By One). (Her pro-US involvement song "Hello Vietnam"recorded with hubby Johnny Wright, is still a catchy tune, if not by now infamous). Some dark stuff, but tempered with jumpy "pick-me-up" tunes like "As Long As I Live" that really get the feet to tapping. (Her duets with Red Foley are all--without exception-- priceless gems) Kitty was the first true female country star, and the first to sing country songs from a female perspective. Her signature song, "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky-Tonk Angels" actually shook up country listeners in 1952 with its criticism of male philandering. Her career still enjoys longevity in the Southern states today, though her inability (or, more probably, refusal) to alter her personal style to the times led to a falling off of her career in the 60s--but this only adds integrity to her music. It is all 100% KITTY, warts and all, as we always feel she is herself present in the songs, even when they occasionally fall into predictability, the "formulaic." (Notably, her rather twangy Southern accent apparently "bothered" many mainstream record companies and radio stations, and this kept her from reaching "superstar" status like her famous successors Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn.) Still, this is vintage radio-days country sound, folks, with more than a dash of gospel, excellent digital sound quality and downright captivating musical settings. The music goes straight to this fan's heart--even without a few shots of Old Kentucky Bourbon! The Bear Family 4-CD set "Kitty Wells:The Queen of Country Music" may be too exhaustive (and expensive) for Kitty novices. For those who need a little Kitty in their life, this offering from the UK is recommended as a good, standard primer of her music."